FIFA Rejected, Malaysia Failed To Naturalize Mats Deijl

The naturalization of Mats Deijl was rejected by FIFA (Instagram/@matsdeijl).

JAKARTA - The World Football Federation (FIFA) rejected the naturalization request of the players of Go Eagles, Mats Deijl. FIFA stated that the player did not pass the requirements to be naturalized to strengthen the Malaysian national team.

The failure of Mats Deijl's naturalization attempt was announced by the Malaysian Football Federation (FAM). The reason is that Deijl has Malaysian blood, not through the lineage of his grandparents as regulated in FIFA provisions.

"Based on the attached documents, it is known that the 27-year-old player only has Malaysian blood through his ancestors and not through his grandparents," the FAM statement was quoted as saying on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

Previously, Deijl had shown interest in being able to strengthen the Malaysian national team. The process to be able to naturalize the 27-year-old player was also carried out because there was information that the player had Malaysian blood.

This process has been going on since June 27, 2024. Talks between FAM and clubs, agents, and Deijl have even been carried out to smooth out naturalization.

From the search results, Deijl has Malaysian blood through his ancestors, namely the mother of his grandfather. It is known that Deijls' ancestors were born in Singapore on June 24, 1893, where at that time Singapore was still part of Malaysia.

FAM then responded to FIFA to smooth out this plan. The correspondence took place on September 23, 2024.

However, two days later, FIFA responded through a letter stating that Deijl could not naturalize to strengthen the Malaysian national team with the existing conditions.

"FAM remains grateful to the player for his interest and determination to represent the Malaysian national team. However, this cannot be realized," wrote the FAM.

Mats Deijl is currently recorded as strengthening the Go Ahead Eagles which will appear in the Eredivisie 2024/2025. He has played seven league games.